Rule trammel



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Jan. 4, 1955 United States Patent O RULE TRAMMEL Charles B. Zern and Fred Schwarzer, Pottstown, Pa.; said Schwarzer assignor to said Zem Application February 18, 1954, Serial No. 411,076

2 Claims. (Cl. 3327) This invention relates to a rule trammel and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described.

It is an object of the invention to provide a scriber holding means and a pivot point attaching means, each of said means being constructed for securement to a carpenters rule.

More specically it is an object of the invention to provide a scriber holding means which may be secured to the end of a carpenters rule and a pivot point attaching means which may be securely adjusted upon the rule, even though it becomes necessary to secure said attaching means at a hinged portion of the rule.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a scriber holding means and a pivot point attaching means, each of which may be carried in the pocket of the carpenter, the pivot point being removable for safe reception within its housing and these holding means being of smooth contour eliminating unnecessary wear of the pockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rule trammel that includes a scriber holding means and a pivot point attaching means both of which are adapted to be attached to a conventional carpenters rule so that carpenters or other persons can readily and accurately scribe circles of any desired size or wherein arcs of circles can be marked or scribed, the present invention adapted to accommodate rules of varying thicknesses and size and wherein the parts can be readily detached when not being used so that the pieces can be conveniently carried in a carpenters pocket or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rule trammel which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the rule trammel, constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rule trammel.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the pivot attaching member shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the pivot attaching member.

Figure 6 is a View looking at the other end from that shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the movable block for the pivot point attaching means.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2 Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a conventional carpenters rule which has scale markings thereon as shown in Figure 1, and the rule 10 may consist of a plurality of sections 11 that are hingedly or pivotally connected together by securing elements 13. Thus, the rule 10 can be folded when itis not being used. Adjustably connected to the rule 10 is a scriber holder 12 which is adapted to hold a scriber or pencil 14. The numeral 15 designates a pivot point attaching means which is adapted to be adjustably connected to the rule 10, and a pivot pin 16 provides a centering or pivotal support for the scriber 14 which can be used to scribe or mark a circle or arc of a circle.

The scriber holder 12 is shown in detail in Figure 8 ice and comprises a base 17 that is provided with an exteriorly threaded end portion 18. A sleeve or collar 19 is arranged in threaded engagement with the end portion 18, and the collar 19 abuis the pencil or scriber 14 to maintain the scriber 14 immobile in its adjusted position. The scriber 14 projects through a slot 20 in the base 17 and there is further provided in the base 17 a recess 21 for receiving therein a portion of the rule 10. A sleeve Z3 is arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded end portion 22 of the base 17, and the sleeve 23 carries a lock ring 24 which serves to prevent accidental disengagement of the sleeve 23 from the base 17. The sleeve 23 is arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded end portion 22 as shown in Figure 8. With this construction, the collar 19 can be loosened so that the scriber or pencil 14 can be removed or detached and also the collar 23 can be loosened on the base 17 so that the holder 12 can be removed from the rule 10 whereby the holder f an be readily carried in the carpenters pocket or the LKC.

The pivot point attaching means 15 includes a hollow casing 25 that has its ends open, Figure 3, and the casing 25 is provided with a pair or' diametrically opposed apertures 26 and 27. The aperture 26 may be provided with threads, and the pivot pin 16 includes a shank that has an exteriorly threaded portion 29 that is adapted to be arranged in threaded engagement with the aperture 26 to prevent accidental disengagement of the pin 16 from the casing 25. A head 28 is arranged on the upper end or' the pm 16, and the head 28 may be provided with a kerf or slit 3l which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool such as a screw driver whereby the pin 16 can be readily replaced or removed. The lower end of the pin 16 is pointed as at 30 to provide an eiective pivot pin tor the rule trammel of the present invention.

Movably mounted in the casing 25 is a block 32, Figure 7, and the block 32 is provided with a slit 33 through which projects a lug 34. The lug 34 is formed integral with or secured to the inner surface of the casing 25, and the lug 34 and slit 33 coact or cooperate to guide the block 32 as it is moved longitudinally through the casing 25 whereby rotation of the block 32 will be prevented. The casing 25 is further provided with a cutout 35 through which projects a portion of the rule 10, Figure 3. The block 32 is provided with a cutout 36 that is mounted for movement into and out of registry with the cutout 35 in the casing 25, and the cutout 36 in the block 32 includes a trst portion 37 and a second portion 38. The portion 38 is of greater length than the portion 37 of the cutout whereby the pivot point holder 15 can be attached to the rule 10 even though it becomes necessary to secure the attaching means at a hinged portion of the rule as shown by broken lines in Figure 4.

One end of the block 32 is provided with a threaded socket or recess 39, Figure 3, and a bushing 40 has an end portion arranged in threaded engagement with the bore 39. The outer end of the bushing 40 is provided with an annular ange 41, and the bushing 40 is provided with a longitudinally extending socket 42 that includes a threaded portion 43. Thus, the pin 16 can be removed from the casing 25 when the tool is not being used so that the pin 16 can be extended into the bore 42 whereby the threaded portion 29 of the pin can be arranged in threaded engagement with the portion 43 to maintain the pin 16 safely secured until it is needed again.

The block 32 is movably mounted in the casing 25, and the ange 41 of the bushing 40 is received in a countersunk recess 44 that is formed in a sleeve 45. The sleeve 45 is rotatably mounted on the bushing 40, and the sleeve 45 includes an exteriorly knurled rim 46 that is adapted to be manually engaged in order to rotate the sleeve 45. This rotation of the sleeve 45 results in longitudinal displacement of the block 32 in the casing 25. The outer surface of the sleeve 45 is threaded and is arranged in threaded engagement with a threaded portion 47 on the inside of the casing 25. A portion of the casing 25 may be knurled exteriorly as at 48, Figure 4, whereby the casing 25 can be manually gripped in order to facilitate rotation of the various parts. The outer end of the bushing 40 is provided with a kerf or slit 49, Figure 6, whereby a suitable tool such as a screw driver can be arranged in engagement with the slit 49 when the bushing 40 is to be removed or replaced. An indicating mark 50 is arranged on the outside of the casing 25 so as to permit accurate alignment of the assembly 15 with the scale markings on the rule 10.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a rule trammel for use by carpenters or other persons wherein the rule trammel includes a scriber holder 12 and a pivot mechanism 15. The pivot mechanism 15 can be secured at any point along the rule by manually rotating the sleeve 45 to thereby cause the block 32 to' move in the casing 25 so that the rule 10 will be clamped between the inner end of the block 32 and the wall of the casing 25. The rule 10 is received in the registering cutouts 35 and 36. The pin 16 projects through the apertures 26 and 27 when the device is being used, and the threaded portion 29 of the stem which engages the aperture 26 maintains the pin 16 immobile in its operative position. When the device is not being used, the pin 16 can be detached from the apertures 26 and 27 and then the pin 16 can be positioned in the bore 42 in the bushing 40 as shown in Figure 4 so that it will be safely held in an out of the way position. Similarly, the scriber holder 12 can be secured at any adjusted position on the rule 10 by tightening the sleeve 23 on the base 17 to thereby secure the rule 10 in the recess 21. The pencil or scriber 14 is locked in the slot 20 by means of the collar or sleeve 19, Figure 8.

The pair of cutout portions 37 and 38 in the block 32 permit the securement of the assembly 15 to the rule 10 at any point along the rule including a hinge joint. Since the compass point 16 can be housed within the mounting as shown in Figure 4 when the device is not being used, the workman can readily carry the parts in his overalls, apron or pocket.

We claim:

1. In a rule trammel, a foldable rule having scale markings thereon and including a plurality of sections hingedly connected together, a scriber holding means detachably connected to said rule, and a pivot point attaching means adjustably connected to said rule, said scriber holding means comprising a base provided with a slot for projection therethrough of the scriber, said base having outer threaded end portions, a collar arranged in threaded engagement with one of said end portions and abutting the scriber, there being a recess in said base for receiving a portion of the rule, and a sleeve adjustably mounted on said base and abutting said rule, said pivot point attaching means comprising a casing provided with an exteriorly knurled surface, there being a pair of diametrically opposed apertures in said casing, a pivot pin projecting through said apertures and including a lower pointed end, said casing having its ends open and including a longitudinally extending bore provided with a threaded portion, said casing being provided with a cutout, a block movably mounted in said casing and provided with a cutout mounted for movement into and out of registry with the cutout in said casing, a guide lug projecting inwardly from a wall of said casing, said block being provided with a slit for receiving said lug, a bushing having its inner end arranged in engagement with said block, and a sleeve rotatably mounted on said bushing and threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the bore in said casing, there being a longitudinally extending socket in said bushing for selectively receiving said pivot pin.

2. A pivot point attaching means for a rule trammel comprising a casing provided with an exteriorly knurled surface, there being a pair of diametrically opposed apertures in said casing, a pivot pin projecting through said apertures and including a lower pointed end, said casing having its ends open and including a longitudinally eX- tending bore provided with a threaded portion, said casing being provided with a cutout, a block movably mounted in said casing and provided with a cutout mounted for movement into and out of registry with the cutout in said casing, a guide lug projecting inwardly from a wall of said casing, said block being provided with a slit for receiving said lug, a bushing having its inner end arranged in engagement with said block, and a sleeve rotatably mounted on said bushing and threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the bore in said casing, there being a longitudinally extending socket in said bushing for selectively receiving said pivot pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 734,014 Traut July 21, l903j FOREIGNA PATENTS f 12,883 Great Britain June 2, 1906 

